Key Elements of Physical Fitness

June, 6 2012

The idea of physical fitness may conjure up visions of workouts at the gym or an early morning run for most adults. But for children fitness and exercise really means playing and being active in all their activities.

In effect, children are exercising any time they are participating in sports, riding bikes with their friends or just playing at the park. Martial arts training is a great way to incorporate this type of activity in your child’s daily routine.

The problem is that our children aren’t as physically fit as they used to be. Childhood obesity and prolonged periods of sedentary behavior are just the tip of the media related iceberg that our kids are literally sitting on. The average child watches 2 to 4 hours of television combined and spends increasing extended periods on computers and electronic games every day.

So, what’s the solution to this growing fitness void? As a parent you can help your child to identify and develop these keys to physical fitness:

Strength

Endurance

Flexibility

Strength: children can build physical strength through formal exercise programs, weight lifting, wrestling and other activities. Martial arts classes are designed to incorporate the strength building elements of all of these activities through systematic training and repetition.

Endurance: is a result of building the body’s ability to perform increasingly longer periods of aerobic activity such as running, swimming or bicycling. This activity boosts physical fitness levels by strengthening the heart and improving its ability to deliver oxygen to the blood.

Flexibility: is gained through stretching and flexing joints and muscles which helps your child bend and move fluidly without injury. Martial arts training is an excellent way to gain and maintain this flexibility and overall physical fitness through regular practice and repetition of movement and forms.</div